Attending Services at Non-Catholic Christian Congregations

[Hope2]

I disagree. My Dad was a devout Catholic; my Mother was a Lutheran. There was never even a hint of discord in our home. Mom went to her church, and Dad took us to his.

I never heard nor heard even the suggestion of discord in my family. But when I started Catholic school, it was then that the nuns went after my Mother by asking the whole class to join in prayer for my mother, who was Lutheran and therefore going to hell.

I am weary of people telling me that times have changed. I lived through that, and no one can change what happened. I forgive them fully. But that was just plain wrong. They were arrogant to think they knew the mind of God that well.

 

[Hope2]

I must disagree. When I attend the Anglican Mass with my children, I am filled with the real presence of Christ. You can tell me all day that I am experiencing a delusion, but I know God and God knows me. I am happy and at peace.

 

[thistle]

I’m sure you are correct about these church prohibitions. I just do not believe they could possibly align with the teachings of Christ, and in the same sense, with the all loving God who created us.

Ultimately, I, and my children, will stand before God alone.

The Catholic Church, not any others, was the only Church established by Christ and he gave it authority in matters of faith and morals. That means what it teaches has the full authority of God standing behind it. Those who ignore this put their immortal souls in danger.

 

[Reuben_J]

I disagree. My Dad was a devout Catholic; my Mother was a Lutheran. There was never even a hint of discord in our home. Mom went to her church, and Dad took us to his.

I never heard nor heard even the suggestion of discord in my family. But when I started Catholic school, it was then that the nuns went after my Mother by asking the whole class to join in prayer for my mother, who was Lutheran and therefore going to hell.

I am weary of people telling me that times have changed. I lived through that, and no one can change what happened. I forgive them fully. But that was just plain wrong. They were arrogant to think they knew the mind of God that well.

I note that you are speaking about your mum and dad. That is very good because both spouses had reached an understanding of how to live it out in mix marriages.

You do not disagree with my post however because I did not exclude that. I am saying it is difficult in mix marriages if the spouses do not find this understanding. Thus my suggestion to the OP is to find an understanding with regards to their different religions after getting married.

I have personally seen a few mix marriages couples (while reaching out to them in our parish). One of the causes of disharmony among them is due to them having different religions which they had not come to an understanding of how they would deal with. Sometimes they would deal with this differences in passive aggresive style, like the other spouse giving many excuses in order not to support the partner’s religious life.

 

[AveOTheotokos]

I must disagree. When I attend the Anglican Mass with my children, I am filled with the real presence of Christ. You can tell me all day that I am experiencing a delusion, but I know God and God knows me. I am happy and at peace.

I’m not sure how you can disagree with my own personal experience at a select group of local churches, but you are certainly free to

I am very happy that you feel Christ’s presence while you are at your church, and I pray that His grace draws you closer, so that you may one day come into full communion with the Catholic Church and share in the experience of the fullness of Christ’s body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist.

 

[Hope2]

As I said, I will stand before my God. He will not refuse one who is so blithe to go to Him.

 

[Hope2]

Thank you for your kind wishes. I do indeed experience the fullness of Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity when I attend my own Catholic Church on most Sundays. You may say I am mistaken, which is your honest view; but I am at peace with Jesus Christ, my savior. I listen carefully for His “still, small, voice” (Isaiah) every day.

 

[Hope2]

Respectfully, the wrong things the nuns told me did not cause disharmony. The fact that I believed them was the source of the my personal disharmony. Thank heavens I had devout parents who pointed out to me that such a view was un Christlike, and therefore, could be set aside with peaceful conscience.

 

[Reuben_J]

Respectfully, the wrong things the nuns told me did not cause disharmony. The fact that I believed them was the source of the my personal disharmony. Thank heavens I had devout parents who pointed out to me that such a view was un Christlike, and therefore, could be set aside with peaceful conscience.

Are you in mix marriages as well? How blessed you are to have such a blessed parents and such a Christ-like character. We need people like that to pastor many mix marriages couples who have problem due to their different religions.

 

[Hope2]

Indeed I am most blessed. I give thanks and praise every day; especially for the fact that all my grown children are still deeply religious.

 

[Reuben_J]

@Hope2. Praise the Lord, Hope2. It is nice to hear that.

 

[AveOTheotokos]

I do indeed experience the fullness of Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity when I attend my own Catholic Church on most Sundays.

My mistake, I thought you said you attended an Anglican mass.

 

[Hope2]

I do. My children are Anglican. I attend both my own Catholic and their Anglican Masses.
It’s interesting because two of my kids are Jesuit educated, and the Jesuits are the ones who urged us to share our worship in this way, with a full and grateful heart.
Praise the good Lord.

 

[Reuben_J]

I do. My children are Anglican. I attend both my own Catholic and their Anglican Masses.
It’s interesting because two of my kids are Jesuit educated, and the Jesuits are the ones who urged us to share our worship in this way, with a full and grateful heart.
Praise the good Lord.

May I ask how did you agree to your children became Anglicans? Did you get a dispensation from your marriage vow or was it by your own consent?

 

[poche]

When my dad married my Methodist stepmother he was told by the priest that he had to accompany her to the services at her church. He did. He even went to some of their Sunday school classes. Then one day they decided to talk about the Catholic Church. He raised his hand and made a number of corrections to their erroneous claims about the Church. They then told him that he didn’t have to go to their church again.

 

[Hope2]

Reubin_J,

My children were baptized as infants in the Anglican church for several
reasons I won’t go into here. Later, after taking counsel with the priests
(Jesuits) at our parish, we began to worship in both churches. The Jesuits
turned out to be right. The doctrines of the High Anglican church are
pretty much identical to those of the CC. We never encountered any
doctrinal disputes that interfered with our faith or worship. BUT, it is
true that in talking this over with many CC priests over the years, some
told us one thing and some told us another. We made our decisions
prayerfully. God knows each of our hearts. I trust the Holy Spirit to keep
us in Truth and peace. And I do love the Doxology, sung at every Anglican
Mass.

 

[thistle]

My children were baptized as infants in the Anglican church for several

reasons I won’t go into here. Later, after taking counsel with the priests

(Jesuits) at our parish, we began to worship in both churches. The Jesuits

turned out to be right. The doctrines of the High Anglican church are

pretty much identical to those of the CC. We never encountered any

doctrinal disputes that interfered with our faith or worship. BUT, it is

true that in talking this over with many CC priests over the years, some

told us one thing and some told us another. We made our decisions

prayerfully. God knows each of our hearts. I trust the Holy Spirit to keep

us in Truth and peace. And I do love the Doxology, sung at every Anglican

Mass.

If you are Catholic you are NOT PERMITTED TO WORSHIP in a non-Catholic Christian church.

 

[lilypadrees]

Another good reason to have a PO box. It frustrates them to no end not to have a street address where they can come to your house and try to “save” you.

 

[Hope2]

You must believe what you think is true. And I do the same.

 

[thistle]

You must believe what you think is true. And I do the same.

Its not what I think is true it is actually true.

I quoted this in the other thread on this topic.

Below is a response from Father Serpa of Catholic Answers from some time ago. I have bolded the particular relevant part.

"In the first place a Catholic has no business attending Protestant church services even occasionally. To participate in a heretical worship service and especially a communion service can be sinful for a Catholic because such an act is an affirmation of what we believe to be untrue.

To attend an ecumenical service or a wedding or baptism is allowed, but Catholics are not allowed to attend such churches for the main reason of worship.

Now if there are no Catholic churches in the vicinity on a Sunday, Catholics are allowed to participate in the Liturgy of Churches whose clergy are validly ordained such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches—including the reception of the Eucharist.

Although we consider them to be in schism (not in union with the Pope) with the Catholic Church, such Churches are not heretical and share our basic beliefs.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P."

I may not know better than you but I think a priest does.